Ülo Kaasik

Ülo Kaasik
Kaasik (right) with mathematician Mati Abel in 2009
Born(1926-11-09)November 9, 1926
Tallinn, Estonia
Died(2017-04-17)April 17, 2017
Tartu, Estonia
Alma materUniversity of Tartu (then Tartu State University)[6]
Known forEstablishment and early leadership of the University of Tartu Computing Centre (1959); development of computing and programming education at the University of Tartu[4][7][8]
AwardsOrder of the White Star, 3rd Class (2001)[1]
National research award for long-term achievement (2007)[2]
Honorary citizen of Tartu (2013)[3]
Scientific career
FieldsMathematics; Computer science[4][5]
InstitutionsUniversity of Tartu[4]

Ülo Kaasik (9 November 1926 – 17 April 2017) was an Estonian mathematician who spent most of his academic career at the University of Tartu and is credited in institutional and professional-society accounts with organising the creation of the university's computing centre in 1959 and advancing the teaching of computing and programming there.[4][7] He later received national and local recognition, including the Order of the White Star (3rd Class) and being named an honorary citizen of Tartu.[1][3][9]

Life and career

Kaasik graduated in mathematics from the University of Tartu in 1953.[6] University of Tartu accounts state that he was associated with the university from 1948 and began a long period of teaching from 1953, later serving in leadership roles within the faculty and shaping its development, including an increased emphasis on discrete mathematics alongside traditional areas of mathematics.[4][7]

Computing and teaching

According to both the University of Tartu and the Estonian Mathematical Society, Kaasik led the establishment of the University of Tartu Computing Centre in 1959; these accounts describe the centre as an early university computing centre in the Soviet period and note the acquisition of the Ural-1 computer and the start of regular instruction in computer use and programming at the university.[4][7] A later historical overview of statistics and related teaching at Tartu similarly credits his organisational work in securing an early electronic computer for the university and links this to expanded training of mathematically oriented specialists, including in statistics and programming.[8]

In broader overviews of Baltic-region computing history, Kaasik is also mentioned as one of the figures associated with early, mathematically oriented computer science education at the University of Tartu around the end of the 1950s.[5]

Work on Estonian-language reference literature

The University of Tartu's memorial note credits Kaasik with a major role in developing Estonian-language mathematical reference literature, including editorial work to review and harmonise mathematics-related articles for the Estonian encyclopaedias ENE and EE, and participation in compiling reference works such as encyclopaedias and mathematics/informatics dictionaries.[4]

Honours and recognition

Kaasik's honours include national, university and municipal recognition:

  • Gerhard Rägo Memorial Medal (1998).[10]
  • University of Tartu medal (2001).[11]
  • Order of the White Star, 3rd Class (2001).[1]
  • National research award for long-term achievement (2007).[4][2]
  • University of Tartu great medal (2007).[12]
  • University of Tartu decoration (Estonian: Tartu Ülikooli aumärk) (2009).[13]
  • Honorary citizen of Tartu and recipient of the Tartu “Great Star” (Estonian: Tartu Suurtäht) (2013).[3][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Vabariigi Presidendi otsus nr 985 (02.02.2001): Riiklike autasude andmine". Riigi Teataja. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Eesti Vabariigi teaduspreemiad 2007" (PDF). Estonian Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Ülo Kaasik". Tartu City Government. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "IN MEMORIAM emeriitprofessor Ülo Kaasik". University of Tartu (Institute of Mathematics and Statistics). 11 May 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b Tyugu, Enn. "Beginning of Computing in the Soviet Baltic Region". Virtual Computer Museum (SoRuCom-2014 conference materials). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b "MT vilistlased (archived)". University of Tartu. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d "Ülo Kaasik (1926–2017)" (PDF). Aastaraamat / Eesti Matemaatika Selts. 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b Tiit, Ene-Margit (2022). "Eesti statistikute kasvulava kujunemise lugu" (PDF). Eesti Rakendusstatistika Ühingu aastaraamat. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Tartu aukodanikeks pakutakse Kaasikut, Mihkelsoni ja Ustavat". ERR. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Professor Gerhard Rägo nimeline mälestusmedal". Eesti Matemaatika Selts. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Tartu Ülikooli medali kavalerid". University of Tartu. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Tartu Ülikooli suure medali kavalerid". University of Tartu. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Tartu Ülikooli aumärgi kavalerid". University of Tartu. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
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